How it works is every Friday you share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

* Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader (If you have to improvise, that's ok.)

* Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it)

So here goes....‘Gareth has such lovely hair.’‘I suppose the only way to tell you this, Mrs Crocker, is just to come out and say it,’ the educational psychologist announced, demonstrating her superpower for stating the obvious. Even at my tender age – and with all the emotional depth of a hamster – I sensed that what was to follow was not necessarily going to be magnificent for me.‘And don’t get me wrong,’ she added. ‘I adore Gareth. He really is such a nice and energetic boy. So full of life.’ She then looked down at me and searched for something else kind to say. ‘And he has such lovely hair. The nicest hair, really.’ I watched as my mother folded her arms. Hmmm. That was interesting. It didn’t feel cold to me.‘You see, the thing is, I believe that Gareth would be better served by … uh … attending a school more equipped to deal with his … er … condition.’ ‘I’m not following you,’ my mother replied, firm of both lip and tone. ‘What condition?’ As usual, I was one step ahead of my mother and now understood precisely what this meeting was about. I obviously needed to be sent to a school for kids with remarkable hair. Oh what a relief. Sound the trumpets. Let loose the monkeys from their cages. I wasn’t in trouble after all."And so it begins, a quirky, humorous 'almost memoir' from Gareth Crocker, called Ka-Boom!

It's very funny, and stuffed with exploits and action - Gareth has had an interesting life.Page 56 has this jewel...

"Now, please, don't get me wrong. I loved that old car. I loved the way it sounded. The way it smelled like the ocean for weeks after a trip to the coast. how beach sand remained trapped in its floor mats forever. Its springy seats. The fact that whenever I saw it pull into Rolene Avenue, I knew that it was carrying my father, the most magnificent human being ever to put on a pair of pants. A man who, for all of my 40 years, has lived on a pedestal so high that I can barely make out the colour of his shoes."

27 comments:

Welcome to the fun of Book Beginnings & Friday 56! I always look forward to Fridays because of them!This sounds like a hilarious read that I'll have to keep a look out for. Thanks for sharing!!!Here's my post for the week: http://wellreadpiratequeen.blogspot.com/2015/12/bookbeginnings-friday56-alan-bradleys-i.html

Welcome to the Book Beginning and 56! I love these 2 memes though they're hazardous to my TBR!I haven't heard of this book but I love the narrator's voice. I'm guessing it's a memoir? I'll definitely have to look for it.

Thanks for stopping by Fiction Books this week. I love meeting new people, so I shall look forward to your visits and comments :)

I don't tend to read memoirs or biographies, so this book probably wouldn't be one for me, despite the humorous lines you shared from it.

Your post did however call me to action in checking out the author a little more and I am quite taken with Gareth's fiction writing. There are some intriguing storylines amongst them ... definitely an author to look out for, so thanks for sharing and have a great weekend :)

You did a great job with your posting, got the lingo right and linked up correctly.Thanks for joining in the 56! Your chosen book sounds full of laughs and one I would rather enjoy! Hope to see you regularly!Happy weekend!

Hi Yvonne. Thank you too - I also love meeting new people, and i really enjoy your blog. Gareth's most famous book is Finding Jack, and it was a beautiful read - about a dog who went to war in Vietnam. I reviewed it on y blog a few months ago.